How to create a modern desktop with the lowest RAM consumption and test the GPU performance with Panfrost.

[2020]

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This tutorial is based on my knowledge and experience in testing Tinkerboard/S and Odroid-C4. It has not been tested on other devices and I do not take any responsibility nor am I liable for any damage caused through the use of this tutorial.

This script is based on NicoD (installPanfrost.sh) https://forum.armbian.com/profile/8801-nicod/

Lubuntu Focal / Panfrost

• Download the latest current version of Focal (Panfrost drivers included) for your device and follow the instructions https://www.armbian.com/download/

• After the first login type ... exit (exit from root, login with the new user id entered in step 1)

• Download the Panfrost Tester script

git clone https://gist.github.com/8f8b0cd40e95ac18c539cd29ecd4c3d2.git install-panfrost-tester
cd install-panfrost-tester

• Version 21.0.0-rc5 will be installed. If you wish, you can modify the mesa branch using:

nano installPanfrostTester.sh  (ex: go to install mesa line and change from 21.0 to master)

• Install Lubuntu Focal / Panfrost *** It will take at least 30 minutes to compile mesa ***

sudo sh ./installPanfrostTester.sh
sudo reboot

• Login graphically with your user id ...

• Open Firefox browser, go to Armbian forum to retrieve the link from this topic and follow the instructions.

Verify Memory being used

• Open Htop, in my case with Tinkerboard/S the memory was 260M, with the Odroid-C4 it is 400M

Get information from Mesa (Panfrost driver)

• To find out the GPU chip that your computer uses, open QTerminal

glxinfo | grep OpenGL

Testing performance and 3D acceleration in the real world

Open VLC and change the default settings - Tools -> Preferences -> Interface

• Check: Allow only one instance and Enqueue item into...

• Uncheck: Show systray icon and Save

Then, from VLC change video output - Tools -> Preferences -> Video

• Output: change from Automatic to OpenGL for Embedded Systems 2 video output and Save

• Quit VLC

• Download HD/4k/8k/10k Videos playlist from vimeo

git clone https://gist.github.com/682ced111c6b3adc74e70dcedf370852.git Videos

• In VLC, open video-examples.m3u under Videos folder, and observe the results!

• For the desktop GPU performance, you can open screensaver and preview the 3D screensaver demo

Cheers, enjoy ... VinVIn

 

 

 

[2020]

Alternative installation (Lubuntu Hirsute / Panfrost)

 

Test builds, builds were made automatically from the trunk with unknown support status. Use at your own risk!

 

Download the latest current version of Hirsute (Panfrost drivers included) for your device and follow the instructions https://www.armbian.com/download/

After the first login type ... exit (exit from root, login with the new user id entered in step 1)

 

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:oibaf/graphics-drivers (Daily updated Mesa drivers)
sudo apt -y update && sudo apt -y upgrade
sudo apt install -y lubuntu-desktop firefox vlc
sudo reboot